Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical, Disney’s “The Lion King,” has returned to Milwaukee to run now through March 1 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
“The Lion King” has run on Broadway for 21 years and since its premiere on Nov. 13, 1997, over 100 million people have seen the production worldwide.
It is based on the classic Disney film, yet it has adapted its own way of telling the familiar story through outstanding music, dance, puppetry and visual effects that only a stage performance could provide.
The music was a beautiful and timeless blend of original songs from the feature film and songs created for the musical adaptation. The classic song, “Circle of Life,” sung by Rafiki (Buyi Zama) awed and captivated the audience, introducing the bright colors, visual effects, talented performers and impressive costumes that would be present throughout the musical.
Other audience favorites included the lively and fun “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” sung by young Simba (Chance Smith) and young Nala (Kalandra Rhodes) and the chilling and dark “Be Prepared” sung primarily by Scar (Spencer Plachy). The choreography and stage presence in these contrasting numbers illustrated the wide range of the show’s abilities.
Another song that cannot be overlooked is “Shadowland” sung by Nala (Kayla Cyphers) and performed by a beautiful and strong ensemble of the female lions. The choreography mixed with the costume design was a powerful sight. I found myself in awe of their sheer strength and grace.
“Endless Night” sung by Simba (Brandon A. McCall) was a breathtaking ballad that shook the room and created a sense of growth and coming-of-age in Simba that we do not get to experience in the film version of the story. This is a perfect example of how the stage performance has enriched and adapted the movie’s story.
The carefully thought-out and detailed costumes illuminated the stage and were the highlight of the storytelling experience. The attention to detail, the color, the different textures that were used brought the characters to life in a beautifully authentic way.
Moreover, the masks, puppets and extending elements from the costumes were also impressive and a work of art in and of themselves. Scar and Mufasa’s (Gerald Ramsey) masks moved as they did to create an effect of “lion-ness” in the actors. The Zazu puppet was delightful and fun, and it flowed seamlessly into the costume design for the actor and puppeteer, Jürgen Hooper.
From the actors to the ensemble to the costumes to the stage itself, the entire production was full of movement and life from the first song. The show brought to life a familiar story in a nostalgic yet completely unique way, and it is absolutely worth seeing, experiencing and enjoying.
“The Lion King” will be running at the Marcus Center from now until March 1, and tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
Student Rush tickets are available day of show at the Marcus Center Box Office, two hours prior to curtain for college or high school students for $25 (cash only) and are subject to availability.